Cooking appliances

ABSTRACT

An electric cooking appliance comprises one or several hotplates fitted in respective openings in a top plate. A ring encircles each hot-plate with a peripheral flange of the hotplate resting on said ring. The outer edge of the ring and the inner edge of the opening in the top plate have downwardly directed continuous flanges which are sealed to one another and fixed to one another. A frame by which the appliance can be mounted on a base has an opening provided with a downwardly directed flange in which the top plate is fitted with an outer downwardly directed flange on the top plate adjoining and secured to the frame flange.

United States Patent 1 91 Fischer et al.

[ June 12, 1973 COOKING APPLIANCES 2,761,054 8/1956 Locher 219/4452,261,496 11 1941 Happe et al. 219 464 [75 l lnvemorsi Fell schrederboth of 2,320,041 5/1943 McCormick 219/445 Oberderdmgen, Germany2,727,133 12/1955 Scofield 219/464 x Assignee E G 0 Elektm Gerate BiancU. 3,355,575 11/1967 Bassett,.lr. et al. 219/464 Fischer,Kommanditgesellschaft, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany 1,049,7278/1953 France 219/445 138,547 6/1930 Switzerland... 219/445 [22] Flled:1971 157,610 12 1932 Switzerland... 219 445 21 Appl. No.: 115,324171,628 6/1952 Austria 219/445 A r P t D Primary ExaminerVolodymyr Y.Mayewsky [30] Pp canon y Attorney-Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & RaymondFeb. 17, 1970 Germany P 20 07 145.8

ABSTRACT [52] 219/445 99/324 An electric cooking appliance comprises oneor several 51 I t Cl Hush 3/68 hot-plates fitted in respective openingsin a top plate. 1 1 A ring encircles each hot-plate with a peripheralflange [58] F1eld of Search ..2l9/445447,

458 459 463 464 of the hot-plate restmg on sa1d r1ng. The outer edge ofg 4 the ring and the inner edge of the opening in the top l plate havedownwardly directed continuous flanges [56] References which are sealedto one another and fixed to one an- UNITED STATES PATENTS other. A frameby which the appliance can be mounted 2,551,759 5/1951 on a base has anopening provided with a downwardly 3,017,489 1/1962 directed flange inwhich the two plate is fitted with an 3,023,298 2/1962 outer downwardlydirected flange on the top plate adjoining and secured to the frameflange. 1:747:242 2 193 31 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 16 I 3b 23 2i 43 t45 l Q SHEET 1 0F 5 PAFENIED 1 2 1N VENTORS ATTORNE KARL FISCHER 8|FELIX SCHREDER their PMENTEU 2W3 SHEUZUS their 7 R M I ATTORNE 5.

PAIENIEU 3.739.149

sum 3 0F 5 Fig. 7 L731,

INVENTORS.

KARL FISCHER a FELIX SCHREDER I M.QM. 87$ m k ATTORNEYS.

'lhel Pmmenm 2m sum MIF 5 n m s INVENTORS KARL FISCHER 8: FELIX SCHREDER3wM ATTORN E their PAIENIED Jul 1 21973 SHEEI 5 OF 5 III COOKINGAPPLIANCES The invention relates to an electric cooking appliance havingat least one electric hot-plate, and is applicable to cooking applianceswhich are fitted in cooking ranges, cooking appliances which may befitted into kitchen furniture, table tops etc., and flat cooking unitswhich may be placed on a table.

Normal cooking appliances are of relatively great vertical dimension,i.e., when measured at right angles to the cooking surface. Furthermore,they are usually constructed such that the actual cooking surface islocated considerably above the level of the surrounding mounting, sothat a pan which is to be removed from the cooking surface has to belifted. These disadvantages are attributable to various difficulties. Onthe one hand, the hot-plates and the mounting have to be effectivelysealed relative to one another in order to prevent overflowing cookedcommodity from running into the interior of the cooking appliance and,on the other hand, good thermal insulation has to be provided, with theminimum spatial requirements, such that the plate can be of very lowconstruction. Furthermore, owing to inadequate thermal insulation, ithas hitherto been impossible to fit the cooking appliances in furnitureparts made from inflammable material such as wood, chipboard or plasticsmaterial.

A feature of the invention is to provide an electric cooking applianceof the initially mentioned kind which does not have the above-mentioneddisadvantages.

In accordance with the invention, an electric cooking appliancecomprises an inner mounting made from flat material in which at leastone electric hot-plate is accommodated, the inner mounting having anupper surface substantially parallel to the cooking surface of theelectric hot-plate and an outer edge which has a continuous, downwardlydirected angled portion, and an outer mounting made from flat materialwhich has an upper surface substantially parallel to the cooking surfaceof the electric hot-plate and at least one opening in the inner edge ofwhich has a continuous, downwardly directed angled portion, the innermounting being arranged in the opening in the outer mounting, the twoangled portions being located close to one another and extendingparallel to one another, and fastening means on the angled portions forthe purpose of securing the two mountings to one another.

This advantageous construction provides an advantageous possibility ofinstallation in which the upper surfaces of the two mountings may belocated substantially at the same height. The joints between the twomountings may be sealed satisfactorily, and, circumstances permitting,an annular gap providing thermal insulation may be formed between thetwo angled portions. Furthermore, the radiation heat, which isparticularly undesirable, is intercepted and dissipated by the angledportions. In the same advantageous manner, the ring directly surroundingthe electric hot-plate may be connected to a plate such as a stoveplate, and the stove plate may be connected to a rim surrounding theentire cooking unit.

The invention is further described, by way of example, with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially fragmented section through an installed cookingunit, constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail section, corresponding to FIG. 1, but through aportion of a second embodiment;

FIGS. 4 to 9 are detail sections through various other embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a section, drawn to an enlarged scale, through a detailbefore completion of installation; and

FIG. 11 is a section, corresponding to FIG. 10, in the fitted state.

FIG. 12 is a schematic circuit diagram showing an electrical circuitwhich may be used with the cooking appliance of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a unit 11 comprising two hotplates with theassociated regulator has an enamelled top 12 made from sheet steel.Solid electric hot-plates 13, each having a cover member 13a formed ofconventional metal or ceramic heat conducting and refractory material,and heated from beneath by conventional electric heaters shownschematically at 13b, and embedded in a conventional electricallyinsulating, heat conducting material 13C are fitted in the top 12 in twoopenings having flanged edges and, in the illustrated embodiment, areprovided with central temperature sensors 14 in a conventional manner.

The rim region of the top 12 is provided with a protuberance 15 which isformed by an upwardly bent portion and which has contiguous thereto arelatively long, downwardly directed flange 16. Bow-shaped brackets 17,to which a lower cover 18 may be screwed, are mounted on the enamelledtop 12. The top 12 is surrounded by a frame 19 which is made from arustless sheet steel. The frame 19 has an outwardly directed flange 20which may abut against a base 22 by means of an offset edge 21. The edgeof the frame adjacent the enamelled top 12 has a downwardly directedflange 23 which extends parallel to the flange 16 of the top. The twoflanges 16 and 23 are connected to one another by means of hollow rivets24. It may be seen that the flange 16 of the top 12 extends almost theentire depth of the unit, while the flange 23 may be considerablyshorter, thus simplifying its manufacture as an integral component partof the frame. The unit 11 is fitted into an opening in the base 22which, for example, may be a table top, a working top of a kitchen unit,or the like. For the purpose of installation, a hook of a clamping bolt26 is inserted into an opening 25 in the flange 16. A nut, preferably awing nut, is screwed onto the clamping bolt 26 and presses a clamp 28against the undersides of the base 22 and the unit 11. It may be seenthat the unit 11 may be fitted in this manner by only a fewmanipulations.

One of the short sides of the frame 19 is relatively wide and isprovided with an upwardly raised portion or plateau 29. The regulatingand switching components are fitted into the portion 29. Two regulators30 having adjusting knobs 31 are provided for the two hotplates 13. Incontrast to the conventional regulators, the regulators 30 have nocontactors for phase separation; that is, each regulator 30 is insertedin only one of the two lead wires to the respective hot-plate and has nocontact in the other lead wire. Thus, the regulators may be constructedwith an extremely low overall height and very economically. Theregulators 30 may be thermostat'controlled regulators or they may be ofthe kind which turn the power on and off at adjustable time intervals.

A two-pole mains on-off switch in the form of a pushbutton switch 32 isarranged between the two regulators 30, the push-button 33 of the switchbeing transparent and of relatively large area. Two lamps are arrangedin the push-button and indicate whether or not power is being suppliedto the associated hot-plate. The two corresponding zones of thepush-button 33, which are illuminated by the lamps, adjoin therespective regulators 30.

Preferably, the push-button 33 and the associated lamps form a unitwhich may be attached to the pushbutton switch 32 and which may beinterchanged as a unit if one of the lamps should fail. Furthermore,there is provided a pilot lamp 34 which is particularly useful when aplurality of cooking plates are arranged in one unit and which indicateswhether the push-button switch 32 is in its on position or off position,i.e., whether the unit is connected to the mains supply or not. For thispurpose, the push-button switch 32 contains a contactor for supplyingthe pilot lamp in addition to the two contactors for the two mains leadwires.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two regulators, the push-buttonswitch, and the pilot lamp are fitted into a cover 35 to form a switchpanel which is subsequently inserted into an opening in the raised frameportion 29. Combining together the regulators, the switch and, ifprovided, the pilot lamp, to form a unit has the advantage that theentire switch panel may be wired before it is installed. Thepre-assembled switch panel is then merely installed, connected to thehot-plates, and provided with a mains supply line.

Referring to FIG. 1, the hot-plate 13 is fitted into the top 12 by meansof a ring 40. For this purpose, the top 12 has a downwardly directedflange 42 defining the opening 41 for fitting the hot-plate. A smallflange 43 at the bottom of the vertical flange 42 extends horizontallyinto the opening. The ring 40 has an upper, plane, annular portion 44, adownwardly directed flange 45 at the outside thereof and a downwardlydirected flange 46 at the inside thereof. Thus, the ring 40 essentiallyhas a downwardly open, U-shaped cross section whose inner limb isusually shorter. Preferably, the ring 40 is made from rustless sheetsteel. The cooking surface 47, i.e., the upper surface of the hot-plate13, protrudes somewhat above the ring 40 and a peripheral flange 48 ofthe cover member 13a abuts against the annular portion 44 of the ring40. The downwardly directed flange 46 abuts against the periphery of thehot-plate 13 below the flange 48 and may be pressed onto the latter, forexample.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the outer flange 45 of the ring40 is also dimensioned such that it abuts tightly against the flange 42of the top 12 and thus tightly seals the gap. The lower edge of theflange 45 of the ring abuts against the flange 43 and forms a downwardsupport. To ensure that the hot-plate 13 does not lift out of the top ofthe opening, it may be retained by means of a clamping device (notillustrated). It may be seen that it is a particularly simple matter tofit the hot-plate 13 into the top 12 in this manner, and that thehot-plate projects only slightly above the top 12 and the transmissionof heat from the hot-plate 13 to the top 12 is not undesirably high.

A different embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the frame 19'is made from a plastics material reinforced with glass fiber. Such aframe is particularly simple to manufacture, has very good heatinsulating properties, and its color may be matched to the color of thebase 22 or of the top 12. The fastening and clamping device can beidentical to the device illustrated in FIG. 1. However, in the presentembodiment, the bottom cover 18 is so constructed that it terminates ata distance from the rim 16. This results in satisfactory cooling of theedge region, and convection heat is prevented from directly approachingthe edge from the interior of the unit.

FIG. 3 shows a connection between the hot-plate l3 and the top 12 inwhich the ring 40 has an obliquely inwardly and downwardly extendingflange 49 against which abuts a conical flange 50 of the hot-plate 13.The flange 49 may be so dimensioned that, after the ring 40 has beenpressed onto the hot-plate, the inner boundary of the flange 49, i.e.,its inner sharp edge, abuts against a cylindrical surface 51 on thehot-plate and prevents the latter from being lifted upwardly. The outerflange 45 of the ring 40 forms an air gap with the flange 42 of the top12. Its lower edge abuts against a sealing ring 52 which is preferablymade from silicone rubber. The sealing ring 52 is located in an upwardlyopen annular recess which is formed by the flange 43 and an upwardlybent rim 53 on the flange 43.

This embodiment provides a particularly good facility for fitting thehot-plates and heat insulation. The air gap and the abutment against thesealing ring 52 avoid any metal-to-metal contact. Furthermore, thesealing ring 52 prevents any overflowing liquid from entering theinterior of the cooking unit.

Details of further embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 8. FIG. 4illustrates an embodiment which is identical to FIG. 1 with respect tothe securing of the ring 40 to the hot-plate 13, i.e., the flange 46etc. The outer flange 45 of the ring and its co-operation with the top12 corresponds to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 corresponds to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 with respectto the securing of the hot-plate, although the top 12 has in the regionof the opening 41 a depression 55 whose depth corresponds to the heightof the hot-plate peripheral flange 48. By virtue of this feature, thecooking surface 47 is located on a level with the top 12 outside thedepression 55. Thus, it is possible to slide a cooking pan from the top12 onto and off of the cooking surface 47, without any tendency for thepan to tilt. Furthermore, the pan is prevented from coming intoundesirable contact with the top 12 when the pot is not locatedcentrally on the cooking surface 47. The depression 55 extends annularlyaround the entire hot-plate and forms a receptacle for cooked commoditywhich has overflowed.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the manner in which the ring 40and the hot-plate 13 are secured to one another also corresponds to thatin the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. However, the ring 40has instead of the flange 45 an obliquely outwardly and downwardlydirected portion 56 which abuts against an obliquely upwardly directedportion 57 of the top 12 inwardly adjoining the depression 55. However,an air gap may be formed between the portions 56 and 57, since theportion 57 has a continuous annular recess 58 into which a seal 52 isinserted. The portion 56 abuts against this seal and thus preventscooked commodity which has overflowed, and which fills the depression55, from running into the interior of the cooking unit. In FIG. 6 also,the cooking surface 47 is located on a level with the main surface ofthe top 12.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment which corresponds to the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 3 with respect to the interior part of the ring 40,while the outer part of the ring and the corresponding construction ofthe top 12 corresponds to those shown in FIG. 1. It may be seen that, inthis embodiment, the hot-plate 13 may project above the top 12 by only asmall amount.

Thus, as may be seen from FIG. 8, only a very slight depression 55 isrequired in order to adapt the level of the cooking surface 47 to thelevel of the top 12 with otherwise the same construction of the ring andthe hot-plate as illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment which corresponds to FIGS. 3, 7 and 8 withrespect to the hot-plate 13 having the flange 50 and the inner flange 49of the ring, while the top 12 and the outer portion 56 of the ring maybe constructed corresponding to FIG. 6.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a modified embodiment of the V mounting for thehot-plate. The construction of the top 12, the flange 42, and the smallflange 43 corresponds essentially to the construction illustrated inFIG. 5. However, the ring 40' is so constructed that at least portionsof its periphery do not abut against the flange 42 before the ring is inits fully fitted state. In the illustrated embodiment, its periphery orits outer flange 45 initially has a downwardly widening conicalconfiguration. The lower edge of this flange 45 comes into abutmentagainst the small flange 43 when the hot-plate is installed. Pressure isthen exerted onto the electric hotplate 13 in the direction of the arrow60 and permanently deforms the ring 40' into the shape illustrated inFIG. 11. Thus, after deformation, the ring 40' has assumed substantiallythe shape of the ring illustrated in FIG. 5. It may be seen that thisenables installation to be effected in a particularly satisfactory andtight manner. In this embodiment also, additional sealing may beeffected by specially inserted seals in the region of the small flange43 or between the vertical flanges 42 and 45.

We claim:

1. An electric cooking appliance comprising an inher-mounting made fromflat rigid metallic material; at least one electric hotplate formed ofrefractory material accommodated in said inner mounting with an uppersurface of said inner mounting substantially parallel to the cookingsurface of the electric cooking hotplate; an outer mounting made fromflat rigid material having means defining at least one opening thereinfor receiving and supporting said inner mounting; said outer mountinghaving a raised plateau in its upper surface; regulating means mountedon said raised plateau for controlling the temperature of the electrichotplate, said regulating means including at least one electricregulator having an adjusting knob for said one hotplate and a separatetwo-pole electric main switch; and said outer mounting having anoutwardly directed flange for abutment against the edge region ofamounting opening in an upper plate of a kitchen furniture.

2. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim I in which at leastone of said mountings comprises material having poor heat-conductingproperties.

3. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which at leastone of said mountings comprises rustless steel plate.

4. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which saidinner mounting comprises a top plate and said outer mounting comprises aframe which surrounds said top plate.

5. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 4 furthercomprising clamping means for acting upon at least one of said mountingsand upon said base to press said outwardly directed flange against saidbase.

6. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 4 in which saidframe comprises glass fiber reinforced plastics material.

7. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 4 in which said topplate comprises enamelled sheet metal.

8. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 4 furthercomprising a bottom cover underlying said hot-plate and the surroundingportion of said top plate but terminates short of the outer periphery ofsaid top plate.

9. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 4 in which said topplate has at least one opening therein, and which further comprises aring closely surrounding said hot-plate and disposed in thelastmentioned opening and means sealing said ring to said top plate.

10. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 9 in which saidtop plate has a continuous, downwardly directed inner flange around itsinner edge defining said last-mentioned opening, and in which said ringhas a continuous, downwardly directed outer flange about its outer edge,said ring being arranged in said lastmentioned opening with said topplate inner flange located adjacent and parallel to said ring outerflange, said flanges at least in part comprising said sealing means.

11. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 17 in which saidelectric hot-plate has a continuous peripheral flange by which theelectrical hot-plate abuts against said ring.

12. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 9 in which saidcooking surface is located in substantially the same plane as the uppersurface of said top plate, and in which said top plate has a shallowcontinuous depression formed therein encircling said hotplate, and inwhich said ring has an obliquely downwardly outwardly directed portionwhich abuts against an obliquely upwardly inwardly directed portion ofsaid top plate adjoining said depression.

13. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which saidregulating means includes a pilot lamp and said switch comprises apush-button type switch including contact means for said pilot lamp.

14. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which saidregulating means includes a panel on which said regulator and said mainswitch are mounted, said plateau having an opening in which said panelis fitted as a cover.

15. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 14 in which saidmain switch has a transparent pushbutton and at least one indicator lamptherebehind for an associated regulator.

16. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 15 in which saidtransparent push-button together with said indicator lamp comprises aninterchangeable subassembly.

17. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which saidinner mounting comprises a ring which closely surrounds the electrichotplate, said electric hotplate having a continuous peripheral flangeand an underlying continuous substantially cylindrical surface by whichthe electric hotplate abuts against and seals to said ring, and saidinner mounting further comprises a flange which has a continuous portionparallel to a continuous portion of said ring and is sealed thereto.

18. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 17 in which saidflange on said inner mounting has on its lower edge a small inwardflange, and said continuous portion of said ring rests against saidsmall inward flange.

19. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 18 in which saidring has about its inner edge a downwardly directed portion abuttingagainst the hot-plate.

20. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 18 in which saidring has about its inner edge an obliquely inwardly and downwardlyextending flange and said outer peripheral flange of said hot-plate hasa complementary conical lower surface resting on said inwardly anddownwardly extending flange.

21. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 18 furthercomprising a sealing ring between said ring and said top plate.

22. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 21 in which saidsealing ring comprises silicone rubber.

23. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 21 in which saidinner flange of said top plate has an upwardly open channel wherein saidsealing ring is received and the edge of said outer flange of said ringabuts against said sealing ring.

24. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 18 in which thecooking surface of the hot-plate is at a level at least as high as thetop surface of said top plate.

25. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 24 in which saidcooking surface is located in substantially the same plane as the uppersurface of said top plate, and in which said top plate has a shallowcontinuous depression formed therein and encircling said hotplate.

26. An electric cooking appliance comprising:

an inner mounting including a top platemade from flat rigid material;

at least one electric hotplate formed of refractory materialaccommodated in said inner mounting, said electric hotplate including acontinuous peripheral flange and an underlying substantially cylindricalsurface having an outside diameter smaller than the maximum outsidediameter of said peripheral flange;

said inner mounting including ring means for supporting, insulating andsealing said electric hotplate in said top plate with the cookingsurface of the electric hotplate substantially parallel and closelyadjacent to the plane of the upper surface of said top plate, said ringmeans including a metal ring having an inner opening defined by an inneredge which receives and tightly engages said cylindrical surface, saidring underlying and abutting said peripheral flange of said hotplate,said metal ring also including an outer peripheral flange which engagesand is supported by said top plate; and

an outer mounting made from flat rigid material having means defining atleast one opening therein for receiving and supporting said top plate.

27. An electrical cooking appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein saidring further includes an outer downturned flange, and said top plateincludes an inner downturned flange defining an opening in which saidelectric hot-plate is accommodated, said inner downturned flange havinga continuous portion continuously parallel to said outer downturnedflange of said ring, and sealing means for sealing said ring outerflange to said top plate inner flange.

28. An electrical cooking appliance as defined in claim 27, wherein theunderside of said peripheral flange is parallel to the top surface ofsaid hot-plate.

29. An electrical cooking appliance as defined in claim 27, wherein theunderside of said peripheral flange is a downwardly directed truncatedconical surface, and said inner downturned flange of said ring has acomplementary conical upper surface engaging and supporting saidunderside of said peripheral flange.

30. An electrical cooking appliance as defined in claim 27, wherein theunderside of the outer downturned flange of said ring describes anupwardly directed truncated conical surface, and the inner downturnedflange of said top plate includes a portion having an upper surfacedefining a complementary upwardly directed truncated conical surfacewith said outer flange of said ring, and said ring outer flange overliesand is sealed to said top plate inner flange.

31. An electrical cooking appliance as defined in claim 29, wherein theunderside of the outer downturned flange of said ring describes anupwardly directed truncated conical surface, and the inner downturnedflange of said top plate includes a portion having an upper surfacedefining a complementary upwardly directed truncated conical surfacewith said outer flange of said ring, and said ring outer flange overliesand is to said top plate inner flange.

File 21168 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 5539 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent No. 3,732,139 Dated {[2316 12, 1973 Inventor(s) I It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are 'hereby corrected as shown below:

Inventors -"Krl", should be -Karl-;

Abstract, line 10, "two", should be--top-;

Column 6, line 37, claim 11, "17" should be --9-'-.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of March 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. 'C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents File 21168 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 3,739,149 Dated June 12, 1973 Inventofls) It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Inventors -"Krl", should be -Karl--;

Abstract, line 10, "two", should be-top--;

Column 6, line 37, claim 11, "17" should be --9--.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of March 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. 'C. MARSHALL DANN Attescing Officer v Commissionerof Patents

1. An electric cooking appliance comprising an inner-mounting made fromflat rigid metallic material; at least one electric hotplate formed ofrefractory material accommodated in said inner mounting with an uppersurface of said inner mounting substantially parallel to the cookingsurface of the electric cooking hotplate; an outer mounting made fromflat rigid material having means defining at least one opening thereinfor receiving and supporting said inner mounting; said outer mountinghaving a raised plateau in its upper surface; regulating means mountedon said raised plateau for controlling the temperature of the electrichotplate, said regulating means including at least one electricregulator having an adjusting knob for said one hotplate and a separatetwo-pole electric main switch; and said outer mounting having anoutwardly directed flange for abutment against the edge region of amounting opening in an upper plate of a kitchen furniture.
 2. Anelectric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which at least oneof said mountings comprises material having poor heat-conductingproperties.
 3. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1 inwhich at least one of said mountings comprises rustless steel plate. 4.An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which said innermounting comprises a top plate and said outer mounting comprises a framewhich surrounds said top plate.
 5. An electric cooking appliance asclaimed in claim 4 further comprising clamping means for acting upon atleast one of said mountings and upon said base to press said outwardlydirected flange against said base.
 6. An electric cooking appliance asclaimed in claim 4 in which said frame comprises glass fiber reinforcedplastics material.
 7. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim4 in which said top plate comprises enamelled sheet metal.
 8. Anelectric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 4 further comprising abottom cover underlying said hot-plate and the surrounding portion ofsaid top plate but terminates short of the outer periphery of said topplate.
 9. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 4 in whichsaid top plate has at least one opening therein, and which furthercomprises a ring closely surrounding said hot-plate and disposed in thelast-mentioNed opening and means sealing said ring to said top plate.10. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 9 in which saidtop plate has a continuous, downwardly directed inner flange around itsinner edge defining said last-mentioned opening, and in which said ringhas a continuous, downwardly directed outer flange about its outer edge,said ring being arranged in said last-mentioned opening with said topplate inner flange located adjacent and parallel to said ring outerflange, said flanges at least in part comprising said sealing means. 11.An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 17 in which saidelectric hot-plate has a continuous peripheral flange by which theelectrical hot-plate abuts against said ring.
 12. An electric cookingappliance as claimed in claim 9 in which said cooking surface is locatedin substantially the same plane as the upper surface of said top plate,and in which said top plate has a shallow continuous depression formedtherein encircling said hot-plate, and in which said ring has anobliquely downwardly outwardly directed portion which abuts against anobliquely upwardly inwardly directed portion of said top plate adjoiningsaid depression.
 13. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1in which said regulating means includes a pilot lamp and said switchcomprises a push-button type switch including contact means for saidpilot lamp.
 14. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1 inwhich said regulating means includes a panel on which said regulator andsaid main switch are mounted, said plateau having an opening in whichsaid panel is fitted as a cover.
 15. An electric cooking appliance asclaimed in claim 14 in which said main switch has a transparentpush-button and at least one indicator lamp therebehind for anassociated regulator.
 16. An electric cooking appliance as claimed inclaim 15 in which said transparent push-button together with saidindicator lamp comprises an interchangeable sub-assembly.
 17. Anelectric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which said innermounting comprises a ring which closely surrounds the electric hotplate,said electric hotplate having a continuous peripheral flange and anunderlying continuous substantially cylindrical surface by which theelectric hotplate abuts against and seals to said ring, and said innermounting further comprises a flange which has a continuous portionparallel to a continuous portion of said ring and is sealed thereto. 18.An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 17 in which saidflange on said inner mounting has on its lower edge a small inwardflange, and said continuous portion of said ring rests against saidsmall inward flange.
 19. An electric cooking appliance as claimed inclaim 18 in which said ring has about its inner edge a downwardlydirected portion abutting against the hot-plate.
 20. An electric cookingappliance as claimed in claim 18 in which said ring has about its inneredge an obliquely inwardly and downwardly extending flange and saidouter peripheral flange of said hot-plate has a complementary conicallower surface resting on said inwardly and downwardly extending flange.21. An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 18 furthercomprising a sealing ring between said ring and said top plate.
 22. Anelectric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 21 in which said sealingring comprises silicone rubber.
 23. An electric cooking appliance asclaimed in claim 21 in which said inner flange of said top plate has anupwardly open channel wherein said sealing ring is received and the edgeof said outer flange of said ring abuts against said sealing ring. 24.An electric cooking appliance as claimed in claim 18 in which thecooking surface of the hot-plate is at a level at least as high as thetop surface of said top plate.
 25. An electric cooking appliance asclaimed in claim 24 in which said cooking surface is located insubstantially the same plane as the upper surfacE of said top plate, andin which said top plate has a shallow continuous depression formedtherein and encircling said hot-plate.
 26. An electric cooking appliancecomprising: an inner mounting including a top plate made from flat rigidmaterial; at least one electric hotplate formed of refractory materialaccommodated in said inner mounting, said electric hotplate including acontinuous peripheral flange and an underlying substantially cylindricalsurface having an outside diameter smaller than the maximum outsidediameter of said peripheral flange; said inner mounting including ringmeans for supporting, insulating and sealing said electric hotplate insaid top plate with the cooking surface of the electric hotplatesubstantially parallel and closely adjacent to the plane of the uppersurface of said top plate, said ring means including a metal ring havingan inner opening defined by an inner edge which receives and tightlyengages said cylindrical surface, said ring underlying and abutting saidperipheral flange of said hotplate, said metal ring also including anouter peripheral flange which engages and is supported by said topplate; and an outer mounting made from flat rigid material having meansdefining at least one opening therein for receiving and supporting saidtop plate.
 27. An electrical cooking appliance as defined in claim 1,wherein said ring further includes an outer downturned flange, and saidtop plate includes an inner downturned flange defining an opening inwhich said electric hot-plate is accommodated, said inner downturnedflange having a continuous portion continuously parallel to said outerdownturned flange of said ring, and sealing means for sealing said ringouter flange to said top plate inner flange.
 28. An electrical cookingappliance as defined in claim 27, wherein the underside of saidperipheral flange is parallel to the top surface of said hot-plate. 29.An electrical cooking appliance as defined in claim 27, wherein theunderside of said peripheral flange is a downwardly directed truncatedconical surface, and said inner downturned flange of said ring has acomplementary conical upper surface engaging and supporting saidunderside of said peripheral flange.
 30. An electrical cooking applianceas defined in claim 27, wherein the underside of the outer downturnedflange of said ring describes an upwardly directed truncated conicalsurface, and the inner downturned flange of said top plate includes aportion having an upper surface defining a complementary upwardlydirected truncated conical surface with said outer flange of said ring,and said ring outer flange overlies and is sealed to said top plateinner flange.
 31. An electrical cooking appliance as defined in claim29, wherein the underside of the outer downturned flange of said ringdescribes an upwardly directed truncated conical surface, and the innerdownturned flange of said top plate includes a portion having an uppersurface defining a complementary upwardly directed truncated conicalsurface with said outer flange of said ring, and said ring outer flangeoverlies and is to said top plate inner flange.